Rescued from rough seas

By DAVID SEXTON dsexton@dailymercury.com.au LESLEY Collins thought she and her son ''were goners'' after getting caught in a rip at Campwin Beach on Saturday afternoon.

The Charters Towers pair survived after treading water for almost half an hour in an angry sea. Both suffered bad cuts and bruises after being battered against rocks, but were grateful to survive. They were part of an extended family group enjoying an afternoon at the beach.

Adults in the group saw some of the kids swept northwards and told them to come in, but Kieran, 11, was struggling. His aunt, Janice Ritchie, swam to help, but could not get him in against the drag.

Lesley Collins swam to her son while Janice helped other kids to shore.

''It was no good fighting the drag so we had to go with it,'' she said..

''Kieran was very tired but also very calm and brave.''

''The waves were pulling me out and I just held him by his shirt.''

''I knew if I let go of him he was gone.''

The drag took them out, but an incoming tide pushed them back towards the rocky point.

People from nearby homes, including off-duty lifeguard/fire fighter Dave Ronald, neighbour Bill Esau and another man known simply as ''Mick the jogger'', helped them ashore.

''Kieran got pushed into a sheltered area by the waves,'' Lesley said.

''I just clung to a rock until Bill and Dave came and got me. Then they put shoes on me and got me across the rocks.

''Mick was saying to Kieran, don't try and stand up, just float over to me.''.

Lesley said she would swim at Campwin again as she had been swimming there all her life.

''It shows you always have got to have high regard for the sea,'' she said.

Mrs Collins thanked everyone who helped them.

Campwin Beach is not patrolled by lifeguards but is still a popular swimming site.

Don Roach, from Sarina Surf Life Saving Club, yesterday urged people to swim at nearby Sarina Beach which is patrolled by lifesavers.